The hall was dead silent. No one could imagine that Wei Zhi would still be so fierce in front of the emperor. The emperor stood there in a daze, staring at Feng Zhi Wei, so speechless was he by her ferociousness and unrepentant attitude that he began to cough until a red flush appeared on his face. 

Ning Yi promptly handed over a cup of tea. Tiansheng Emperor took two big gulps before he managed to ask chillingly in a forced calm voice, “What did you just say?” 

All in a daze, the academy students stared at their Official Wei, admiring him yet clenching their fists with worry at the same time. 

Feng Zhi Wei bowed her head to the ground and said loudly, “Your Majesty! Peng Pei is corrupt, accepted bribery, deceived his ruler, and framed his peers. This kind of heartless moral degenerate, as a citizen, will kill and harm others, as an official, will do even greater harm, betray Your Majesty’s profound grace, and hurt the court’s holy virtue. A person so shameless is the vermin of our empire. In our Tiansheng, be it, soldiers or citizens, be it those in high authority down to the three-foot child, as long as there is a trace of conscience in them, all will exterminate it!” 

Tiansheng Emperor remained silent and did not refute Feng Zhi Wei’s words. The academy students pursed their lips tightly, starting with bright shining eyes at the back of their Official Wei as she spoke eloquently, the blood in their bodies boiling fervently!  

“This lowly servant should have disregarded my own self and personally killed this reprobate and return light to our empire!” Feng Zhi Wei’s voice gradually became choked up with helplessness, “But even if Peng Pei could ignore the laws and regulations of this nation, breaking laws while knowing them, but this lowly servant can’t follow his example! If he is guilty, then he shall be judged by a judge, and Your Majesty will mete out the most just punishment. That is the true meaning of the law. Moreover, This lowly servant is still not loyal enough to Your Majesty– this lowly servant is still afraid of dying! Afraid that after killing him, I myself will also be attacked by the crowd of people and lose my life. This lowly servant wasn’t able to become the sword for Your Majesty and sacrifice this body. That is this lowly’s servant’s selfishness and that, is this lowly servant’s crime!” 

There was silence all around. 

The two scholars exchanged a glance, something flashing in their eyes before looking away. 

Scholar Hu stroked his beard leisurely, thinking inwardly that he could not have uttered that speech. This game of death before rebirth is certainly one this kid played skillfully. Who would not be moved by such loyal and sincere heartfelt words? An eighteen-year-old kid, yet every word out of his mouth is smooth to the extreme like a glass egg! Ruthless when needed, soft when appropriate, thunderous intimidating when required, using gentleness to suppress… alas…in no more than three years, I am afraid this old body of mine will have to bow when I see him. 

(“game of death before rebirth” comes from Sun Tzu’s Art of War. The original meaning is that when you place an army in a place where there is no retreat with battling to death as the only choice, then the soldiers will charge forward courageously, and win by killing their enemies. This phrase has come to mean when one cuts off one’s own retreat, then one can become determined and obtain success. 

The “glass egg” also comes from another book back in ancient China that had classified government officials into eight types. The seventh type is Smooth Officials, who are smooth in every way when it comes to their dealing with people. People jokingly call these people “glass eggs”, meaning they are extremely smooth.) 

Tenth prince used a teacup to hide his mouth and leaned close to Ning Yi, “Sixth brother, why are you helping this guy? Why? This glass egg, too scary, aren’t you afraid of being sold off by him in the future?”

Ning Yi sipped his tea, smiled faintly, and after a pause, he also used the teacup to hide his mouth before whispering into the ear of his favorite younger brother, “Tenth, it’s not frightening to be sold off by someone. What’s frightening is that someone didn’t care enough to sell you off at all.” 

Tenth Prince was stunned and puzzled. After pondering for a good bit, he nodded with a self-assumed understanding and said, “Well, if Sixth brother is not strong enough, then this Official Wei, might not see you as a worthy enough opponent.” 

Ning Yi smiled and said nothing, thinking inwardly perhaps it was not because of not being worthy enough to be an opponent but because he was already one from a long time ago….

This exchange didn’t reach the ears of the emperor who had been staring intently at Feng Zhi Wei this whole time. Not cowering at all, Feng Zhi Wei knelt at his feet. After a long period of long silence, Tiansheng Emperor suddenly laughed loudly and said, “Good! What a good three big crimes!” 

The academy students breathed a sigh of relief in unison. Their collective sound of relief sounded like a small whirlwind. 

“Your Majesty is wise!” Hanging on the fence, Hua Qing shouted out. 

The emperor looked over with a sullen face. This new female general who had recently made her mark had previously had an audience with him so naturally, the emperor knew who she was. With her bright personality, Hua Qing is like a light no matter where she goes, illuminating the gloomy palace court. The old emperor had a rather good impression of her so surprisingly, he didn’t seem offended. 

“Wei Zhi.” Pulling his gaze back, the emperor said in a deep voice, “When I came over just now and listened to your words in the back hall, they were truly heart-piercing words. In theory, it was not right for you to be listing off other people’s crimes at will but since I could give others the opportunity to make their case, then I can naturally give you the same opportunity. If you can give thorough evidence of how Peng Pei was an immoral reprobate that deceived his sovereign ruler, then I will exempt you from the first two crimes that you had truly committed.” 

“Yes!” Feng Zhi Wei’s reply was prompt and clear. As her eyes met the emperor’s, there was a flash in both of their gaze. 

Feng Zhi Wei sighed inwardly. 

The emperor had obviously been investigating this matter the whole time which meant he would more or less be aware of the undercurrents in the whole situation. Now that he had shown up at such an opportune time, it was obvious, he didn’t want her to say too much. 

If this matter is dragged out completely, then it is bound to implicate a large number of people, from the masterminds to the accomplices. Once all those entangled roots are exposed, then would it be just a Peng Pei or one prince? It may possibly be the entire officialdom and foundation of Tiansheng! 

Tiansheng and Da Yue’s war this spring is imminent. Rumor also has it that Xiliang with their new child emperor ascension to the throne, the regent has full control of the empire and has been stirring restlessly. Recently, Xiliang has been clamoring that the Longnan Road should be part of their land and that it was stolen by Tiansheng Emperor through despicable means– under such conditions, what Tiansheng Emperor want is stability, not volatility. 

This long-planned conspiracy to bring her down is destined to reach a compromise with a small amount of blood spilled. Her striking Peng Pei with the chain previously was also her showing her intention of not dragging others into the case. It was precisely this attitude that caused Tiansheng Emperor to come out and make his own position known. If she kept pushing at this point, then things would really end badly for her.

But it doesn’t matter. As long as this body is preserved, revenge is endless, and an endless number of king’s heads to take!   

All kinds of thoughts flashed through her mind as she decisively bowed her head to the ground, “Yes, Your Majesty.” then she stood up, without saying a word, and walked over to the front of Second Prince’s table. 

Second Prince’s face turned pale, and his fists hidden under the table, tightened. 

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